US envoy Steve Witkoff held over four hours of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday, as former US President Donald Trump urged Moscow to accelerate efforts for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Kremlin stated that the meeting focused on potential avenues for resolving the Ukraine conflict. It marked Witkoff’s third session with Putin this year. Kirill Dmitriev, who facilitated the meeting, called the discussions "productive."

Trump, voicing frustration over the prolonged war, posted on social media: “Russia has to get moving. Too many are dying—thousands a week—in a senseless war.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, denied claims that he supported the idea of partitioning Ukraine. A report in The Times alleged Kellogg proposed Western troops could control zones in western Ukraine, while Russian forces remained in the east. 

Kellogg later clarified online that he was referring to a post-ceasefire support force and not to dividing Ukraine.

On the same day, European nations pledged €21 billion in new military support for Kyiv. Defence leaders warned there were no signs the war was nearing an end.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visiting the site of a deadly Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, accused the Kremlin of escalating the conflict and claimed that Chinese nationals were fighting for Russia.

Zelensky also reiterated Ukraine's urgent need for more air defence systems, stating the issue had been discussed with Trump. “Only powerful weapons can protect lives when you have a neighbour like Russia,” he said.

Meanwhile, diplomatic dialogue continues. Earlier this year, US and Russian officials held direct talks in Saudi Arabia for the first time since the 2022 invasion, with prisoner swaps and diplomatic overtures indicating cautious engagement.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1201 HRS, APR 12, 2025
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